Laurinaitis Bags More Hardware
James Laurinaitis was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season, becoming the first player to win the award twice since Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald shared honors with Shawn Springs in 1996 to earn his second. Illinois linebacker Dana Howard is the only other player win two defensive POY awards and like Fitzgerald, he shared one with a Buckeye, splitting the award in 1993 with Dan Wilkinson.
We applaud this most awesome selectionSo, splitting hairs a little, Laurinaitis becomes the first player to actually win two without having to share one of them. Further, a Buckeye has now snared this award in five of the past seven seasons. Where you at, Linebacker U?
As expected, Pryor was named the league’s top freshman, joining Robert Smith (1990), Korey Stringer (1992), Orlando Pace (1994), Andy Katzenmoyer (1996) and He Whose Name Shall Not Be Typed (2002) as Buckeyes that have won the award. Also named honorable mention all-Big Ten by the media, LiC led the conference in passing efficiency with a 151.3 rating and becomes the first freshman to lead the league in that category since the stat was introduced in 1980. Stop and think about that for a second. Now begin salivating to thoughts of September 2009.
Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and tackle Alex Boone join Laurinaitis on both the coaches’ and media first teams. Laurinaitis was a unanimous selection as voted by the media and Jenkins was a unanimous pick of the coaches, which leads me to believe the Big Ten coaches share more of the blog hive mind than the media.
Making all-conference second teams were Beanie Wells (both), Marcus Freeman (both) and Kurt Coleman (media).
I can understand how Beanie slid to the 2nd team considering his injury and the fact that the conference has two of the top three rushers in the country. But he was healthy for every Big Ten game and when you look at the numbers for the eight games, he more than holds his own.
| Name | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Yds/G | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shonn Greene | 8 | 200 | 1223 | 6.1 | 13 | 152.9 | 75 |
| Chris Wells | 8 | 178 | 980 | 5.5 | 7 | 122.5 | 59 |
| Javon Ringer | 8 | 227 | 891 | 3.9 | 10 | 111.4 | 64 |
Obviously Greene is a runaway for that first spot in the backfield as was his choice for Offensive Player of the Year. He had an incredible season and is your likely Silver Football winner for conference MVP. If he sticks around, we’ll get a chance to see him in the Shoe next November as the Hawkeyes roll back on to the schedule. But that battle for the 2nd spot looks like it might favor Wells. Ringer is a fine back in his own right and the 10 touchdowns in Big Ten play is impressive, but that 3.5 YPC kind of sticks out, doesn’t it? Do Beanie’s raw talents not give him the benefit of the doubt here?
Other Buckeyes honored were tackle Nader Abdallah and tight end Rory Nicol as each were named honorable mention by both the coaches and the media, while Brian Robiskie and Pryor were named honorable mention by just the media.
Penn State’s A.Q. Shipley was named Offensive Lineman of the Year, while Iowa’s Mitch King is the league’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. Finally, Joe Paterno captured the Coach of the Year award. Deserving pick, no doubt, but it’s my contractual obligation to point out that Tressel has still never won the honor. I’m not saying he earned it this year, but five Big Ten titles in eight years and not once the top coach?
2008 All-Big Ten Football Teams (PDF)
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How has JT not won coach of the year? That is insane. Not in 2002 or 2006?
Tress got screwed! Well….not this year….but past years for sure.
Not sure why you left this part out, but Bollman made 1st team all-eater at the local IHOP. Man can that guy take down stacks of flapjacks and bacon!
So, if you jump on top of piles and get credited with assisted tackles by the home scorer, you win awards. I should try that.
No disrespect to JoePa but IMO Fitzgerald and Dantonio are more deserving of the coach of the year award. PSU’s success was more attributed to his entire staff, while guys like Fitzgerald and Dantionio turned their entire programs around. Kinda lame that it was more of an homage thing, a lifetime achievement award, rather than, oh I don’t know, coach of the year.
yeah fitzgerald or dantonio definitely deserve some props, possibly even brewster despite the collapse at the end of the season. pat fitzgerald is going to be an outstanding coach for a long time, it’ll be cool watching him progress.
Interesting stat comparison with the RBs. I always had a feeling Javon Ringer was a bit overrated. He’s a workhorse no doubt, but definitely not Heisman worthy. He was able to rack up stats on weak teams, but against a legit B10 run defense (PSU, OSU, Wisky), he couldn’t get off.
In Ringer’s defense, he didn’t have much of a chance to get going against PSU, because his defense couldn’t stop PSU.
Hey Bob Griese!!!!!!!!—– Pryor led the Big Ten in Passing efficiency!!!!– What a damn fool you are– why the hell didn’t you talk about that instead of second guessing a championship coach, you washed up hasbeen. You haven’t been relevant since 1973– and this is exactly the reason Pryor replaced Boeckman…. interceptions and turnovers dork. Boeckman may have “the skills” of an NFL QB, but he has a tendancy to turn it over at bad times and that cost 2 games last year (LSU and Illinois) and contributed to a third this year (USC). Good coaches make the hard choices and don’t blame assistants (Cheesburger Charlie Weis).
I am ecstatic at the prospect of Pryor having 6 weeks of work before the Bowl game–dude is gonna blow up!! Imagine next season when he has Spring Ball and the offseason to get better. Remember what Daniels and Tressel did with Troy Smith in less than 2 years!
Going with Paterno for Coach of the Year when he doesn’t do much of the coaching anymore is not the best selection.
If I had a vote for coach of the year it would go to Brewster. Minnesota won one game last year I believe and this year they are going to a bowl game. I dont know if they will win it but, they are going. Next year with them getting there own stadium on campus there will be a buzz. They arent going to compete for a title but they may steal a few recruits here and there and could be very respectable in a year or two. Dantonio had a great year at state but, they were supposed to be a respectable team anyway. Fitzgerald could make an argument but Brewster’s success at Minnesota is more impressive then his.
Best coaching job in the conference is Tress hands down. How many of these coaches would have had the courage to replace and All Big-10 QB who is a team captain???? With a fresman no less! Kinda shows you who is in charge in Columbus, doesn’t it.
I can’t think of one of them who would have done that (maybe JoePa… maybe) and that’s it. Look at Zook, Juice leads the world in turnovers and he is still the starting QB.
Try to look at the bigger, non-homer picture, PB. OSU was expected to be a top 3 team this year. Most of the returning seniors actually regressed with a year of experience, and many players and fans have questioned a lot of coaching decisions. You don’t get a coaching award with that, it doesn’t matter who you are. Or a depth chart change, for that matter. I love the Vest but there’s just no way.
I understand your point PBB in regards to Tress replacing Boeckman but I think it was a no brainer. He probably didn’t want to have another Zwick-Smith situation on his hands.
I would not vote Tressel as coach of the year in the Big Ten and I think we all know why. When everyone in America knows what play you are going to run and you refuse to change it, you can’t be coach of the year. How many times did you see our offense line up, the defense shifts and we audibled to a different set?? 0 times! I know he doesn’t call the defensive plays but the DC has to answer to him and it wasn’t until the end of the season did the defense pick it up. COY should go to Dantonio or Fitzgerald.
Agreed that Tress doesn’t deserve it THIS year. But, last year, 06 and 02 snubs. C’mon!
Agreed on the lifetime achievement award with JoePa, great man, once a great coach, now just a face of the program. His whole staff should get that award. Either way not hating, he is a legend….although only 2 B11 titles in all those years? Ehhhhh
oK… You guys are right … the defensive issues are another Story and Tress really needs to take a look at his Defensive and Offensive Line coaches in the offseason…. change is needed
Tress has shown that his stubborness can be his undoing… gotta work on that character flaw as well. But I still love the sweater vest!
But for the late-season collapse, Brewster would have received my vote (if I’d had one). In his place, I’d go with Fitzgerald. Under no circumstances is Tressel coach of the year.
Calling out p*nn st*t* for their “Linebacker U” nickname is terrific. I grow so tired of hearing that.
I do, though, miss the days when we were “Tailback U.” That seems to have gone by the wayside a bit.
I realize that saying we want Bollman gone is really beating a dead horse, but I truly hope that happens. Brewster, Shugarts, and the rest of the freshman O-Line are going to be GREAT if we get a real line coach. Couple that with this years batch of 4-5 star recruits, and Jamaal Berry/Boom and Tailback U is back in full effect
With, Pryor, Boom, Saine, Berry, and possibly Beanie (please!!!), you might as well call that Backfield U….
Please leave Saine out of that group….boy has proved to be nothing more than a clumsy track star
Saine???? Have you been watching the games? That guy is quite possibly the most overrated recruit since Ken-Yon Rambo.
I agree…. the staff may have done us a favor by redshirting Boom …. Saine has been a major disappointment…. fast but not may skills shown so far… he can get better if he works hard. Saine may be better suited as WR.
If Beanie is back next year, we are gonna have a SICK bakckfield…. Beanie, Boom, Hyde, Jamal Berry… even if Beanie is not back we are still set at RB… now PLEASE get a world class fullback. Aram Olson was a bust… Doesn’t Nicky Sualua have some elibility left??
Ken-Yon Rambo….nice name drop
FB is a def. necessity in this offseason. Man, if we could get an Owen Schmitt type FB that LOVES to hit and blow open holes and humiliate LB’ers………PLEASE! Its ok to dream right?!
Oh and Donald Washington…if your listening….dont be a fool and go pro…you are not THAT good. Def. skills, but you have not proven yourself to be NFL talent thus far…..besides you will be stepping into a guaranteed starting position opposite Chekwa, and with both safeties returning….our secondary is not gonna miss a beat. Dont be dumb….that is all
I like a Pete Johnson type of FullBack myself, big, somewhat quick, and a beast that likes to hit. Very underrated position IMHO.
Boom and Berry are not going to be effective much out of the singleback formation, so we need a bruiser at fullback. With a reliable FB, the wishbone becomes a powerful formation that can be run. Plus, with the Buckeye Pistol, the FB, if he has hands, is open in the flat ALL DAY LONG
would be shocked if beanie came back. he will be a top 3 pick. Lions need him and so do the bengals. He is a lock to give you 1000 yards maybe 1500 if he stays healthy.
We can’t really say anything about Berry at this point, considering he hasn’t even dawned a scarlet and grey jersey yet.
And honestly, I’d be surprised to see a whole lot of power I the next two years.
With all due to respect, I wouldnt consider Beanie a lock for 1000-1500 at the next level until he proves he can stay healthy. If he couldnt stay healthy in college, I think it’s fair to question if he can do it against bigger/faster players in the NFL.
On a similar note, did anyone here Herbie and Spielman yesterday? They were piling on Beanie bigtime about lack of toughness. The always politically correct Herbie actually said he was more surprised when Beanie made it back to the huddle than he was that Beanie ran out of bounds on one of his long runs Saturday. I know one thing, I don’t think Herbie would say anything like that unless he thought Beanie was 100% turning pro.
Adrian Peterson was barely on the field in college after his freshman season. Definitely injured more often that Beanie, and now he’s one of the top 5 backs in the NFL.
Nonetheless, I agree. Sort of. Teams have been going after Beanie’s leg all season – especially Illinois. I’m not surprised he’s taken himself out a few times.
Every sucessful NFL team has a 2 back system, sometimes 3. Beanie will play mop-up duty and whatnot until he is comfortable in the system to be the go to guy. Unless he is taken by Detroit or Cinci, in which case he better learn quick cuz he will be the starter
No doubt, Pogue. I’m just saying he’s got a lot a lot to prove before I hand him 1500 yards at the next level. Not that I’m saying that was tampa’s original comment because it wasn’t. In all honesty, I was just glad to hear Herbie/Spielman back me up a little after you guys all wanted to kill me after my commentary following the Illinois game :)
I did not want to kill you Chris….just a little roughing up thats all LOL
Laurinaitis has been laying the lumber on opposing QBs and showing, dare I say it, fire?
Let’s hope it continues into the bowl game.
I think we have a legit FB in Jermil Martin. We’ll see a lot of 4 wide spreads, with Berry and Boom running delayed draws. Once Pryor gets a grasp of the finer points of an offense like that and begins to set his feet before throwing the bowl, it’s going to be a nasty offensive attack.